Waning Hunt for Nazi-Era War Criminals
Although it has been more than 60 years since World War II ended and Nazi-era atrocities came to light, the case against the perpetrators still hasn’t been completely closed.
Still being sought, for instance, is Aribert Heim, who became infamous for the bizarre—and, often, deadly—medical “experiments” he allegedly carried out on prisoners during his two months as a concentration camp doctor at Mauthausen, Austria, in 1941, reports Reuters. Then 27, he is believed to be still alive, somewhere in the world, at approximately 90 years of age.
Imprisoned briefly after the end of the war, he was released and returned to the practice of medicine before he disappeared from public view. A reward of about $450,000 is offered by German and Austrian authorities for information leading to his arrest.
Efraim Zuroff, who is now spearheading the search for Heim, says other, less notorious, claimed war criminals apparently are still alive, too. But, as time has passed, efforts to find them have stalled.
In many countries, the “biological solution” is now being pursued, he says: “In a few years, these people will die, and with their deaths, the problem has been solved. If these countries just wait it out, then they will spare themselves enormous expense and unwanted attention and be done with the problem.”
